Treatment outcome has certainly improved since Stunkard and McLaren-Hume (1959) reviewed the literature and found that less than 25% of obese patients lost 20 pounds or more and less than 5% lost 40 pounds or more. However, one of the few points on which almost all obesity researchers agree is that to date, our results are quite modest and we are generally unsuccessful in promoting effective weight maintenance among obese persons. As the title of a more recent article, "Improving long-term weight loss: Pushing the limits of treatment," (Brownell & Jeffrey, 1987, emphasis added]) suggests,...

Treatment outcome has certainly improved since Stunkard and McLaren-Hume (1959) reviewed the literature and found that less than 25% of obese patients lost 20 pounds or more and less than 5% lost 40 pounds or more. However, one of the few points on which almost all obesity researchers agree is that to date, our results are quite modest and we are generally unsuccessful in promoting effective weight maintenance among obese persons. As the title of a more recent article, "Improving long-term weight loss: Pushing the limits of treatment," (Brownell & Jeffrey, 1987, emphasis added]) suggests,...